1948

Among other theater critics, Kathleen Dreyer Tobin ’48 gave actress Celeste Williams ’76 a rave review in the Beverly Review in April for Williams’ portrayal of Jessalyn Price in Julie Hebert’s play, “Tree,” at Chicago’s Victory Gardens Theatre. Celeste played a family’s aging matriarch in a story of family secrets revealed when a white woman thought to be a stranger—but who claims to be a relative–arrives from New Orleans at the African-American family’s Chicago home.

Peggy Cronin Peterson wrote last fall from her home in California with news that in 2006 her son, Dennis, had been ordained a priest in the Diocese of Monterey and was working in a parish not far from where Peggy lives. Father Peterson had been a member of the Christian Brothers for 27 years, leaving that ministry in 2004 to study for the priesthood. Peggy has lived in her present location for 40 years, having moved there with her husband, the late Arthur Peterson, after he retired from the Air Force.

Sister Jean Lenz, O.S.F., retired recently as special assistant to the vice-president for student affairs at the University of Notre Dame. Sister Jean recalled, “When I first came to campus, I had planned to assist Notre Dame’s first women [students] for a year or two. I’m surprised, delighted and grateful that those years turned into 36 years of wonderful ministry.” Sister Jean, who earned a master’s degree in theology from Notre Dame in 1967, was among the first women’s residence hall rectors on campus when the school became co-ed in the early 1970s. As time went on, she held other jobs as well. In her 2002 memoir, “Loyal Sons and Daughters,” Sister Jean reflected on the range of experiences—from dealing with campus pranksters to helping students cope with life-and-death situations–that were all part of her long career at Notre Dame. In 2007 Sister Jean’s name was added to the Wall of Honor in the university’s main building. She continues to live on the South Bend, Ind., campus, providing spiritual direction for students and alumni.